Student Tax Return

International students inside the United States must file their tax return on or before April 18th. If you need helping getting started and missed our Hangout on Air
make sure you watch to get the information you need. Bryanna Davis and Jennifer Frankel walk you through what forms you need to complete when you file, how to
file and where to find additional help if you need it.

Summary

Most international students are considered non-residents for tax purposes.

If you have not received any source of income you’ll need to file
Form 8843.

If you have received income in the last calendar year then you will need to file
Form 8843 and most likely
Form 1040NR-EZ.

Every international student along with their dependents will need to file Form 8843. Every individual, regardless of whether they are one family, will need to
file their own Form 8843 and send it in a separate envelope. For more information, read on for more specifics on filing your taxes in the US.

Some students elect to use our partner Sprintax for tax assistance.

Why should I file taxes?

Every international student and their dependents (including spouses and children of all ages) are required to file their taxes if they were in the US during the
previous calendar year. While filing your taxes may sound difficult, there are a number of benefits to filing your taxes other than it’s the law:

You might get a refund. Some international students will qualify for a refund due to tax treaties and a lack of serious income if they’ve earned
income in the US.

Protect taxation of your worldwide income.

You fulfill your visa obligations. All international students must file at least Form 8843 (see below) in order to remain legal under F, J, M & Q
visas, even if you didn’t earn any money in the US.

The American Tax System - An Overview

Americans and others residing within this country must pay taxes to the state and federal government, and the process is completed through an agency called the
Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS. Usually when someone earns money a portion of it is automatically deducted and sent directly to the government.
Organizations that pay individuals send a summary of how much money they paid you every January or so, as well as how much of that was sent to the government.
The purpose of filing your taxes is to report all your sources of income to the government, what you already paid, and what you still owe. It is also an
opportunity to claim deductions or exemptions you may qualify for. At the end of the process, you calculate how much in total you should have paid. If you paid
more than what you owe during the year, you get a refund. On the other hand, if you didn't pay enough, you have to pay the difference.

How do I file taxes?

If you are an international student or scholar, follow these steps to file your taxes:

Generally, most international students who are on F, J, M or Q visas are considered nonresident aliens for tax purposes. International students on F1 visas are automatically considered non-resident aliens for their
first 5 calendar years in the US, and scholars (and their dependents) on J visas are automatically considered non-residents for their first 2
calendar years in the US. If you’ve been in the US for longer than the 5 or 2 calendar years, the
Substantial Presence Test if will be the formula to determine if you should be taxed as a resident or nonresident alien.

I am a nonresident.

ALL nonresidents MUST fill out Form 8843, which essentially proves
that you’re a nonresident. Additionally, all F-2 and J-2 visa holders must file the same form separately regardless of age and income.

I am a resident for tax purposes.

If you file as a resident, you will be required to declare both your US and your worldwide income. Therefore, before filing as a resident,
check to see if you qualify for the
Closer
Connection Exception. If you still believe you qualify as a resident, you should file taxes as if you were an American citizen. You
can do so for free at the IRS website, or
you can use one of the many aforementioned tax preparation program.

Be advised that the factors determining whether you made money from American sources is different for nonresidents than that which applies to
residents. If you do have US source income, it will probably come from wages, scholarships, and/or bank interest.
(See
the entire list of taxable sources ).

In addition to the links provided below to download each form, the IRS provides instructions for filling out most forms as well. The instructions
can be found by going to the IRS website, and then
searching by form number.

Submit this form to the organization that pays your scholarship, NOT the IRS.

State-level return

Pay taxes owed to the state rather than the federal government.

Depends on your tax situation and the state.

Consult your international student advisor about whether you have to file state tax returns and what forms to fill out.

*If you’re submitting Form W-7, you must also submit proof of identity and foreign status. This is to be done through
your Designated School Official (DSO) at your school, who can provide letters authenticating your identity and certificated copies of
your documents. The following is a list of documents your DSO may require to issue this certification, but check with an
international student advisor to be sure:

Photo copy of your Passport

Photocopy of your visa

Photocopy of your I-20

Admission or scholarship award letter

*If you’re submitting Form W-7, you must also submit proof of identity and foreign status. This is to be done through your
Designated School Official (DSO) at your school, who can provide letters authenticating your identity and certificated copies of your
documents. The following is a list of documents your DSO may require to issue this certification, but check with an international student
advisor to be sure.

You will need the following documents to properly fill out your tax forms or to submit to tax preparation services such
as Sprintax. Copies of each of these forms must be sent with your federal and
state tax returns.

Form

Purpose

Sent By

W-2

Your employer reports wages you earned and taxes withheld from those wages.

Jan. 31st

1099

Your bank reports interest earned on your accounts.

Jan. 31st

1042-S

Reports wages paid to you if you already claimed a tax treaty benefit, and scholarship income that was used for expenses other than
tuition and fees (such as room and board or travel).

Once all the forms have been filled out properly, you will know if you owe taxes or if the government owes you a refund. If you need to pay, the
best option is to enclose a check with your tax documents, because you will have to file by mail (see step 7).

Nonresidents are not allowed to file electronically. Therefore, you must mail hardcopy documents to the correct address. It is important to send
the files to the correct address; otherwise, you risk being fined for filing a late return. Remember the deadlines!

It is recommended that you keep tax documents for at least seven years in case the IRS makes a claim.

Where can I get more information?

Have more questions about your taxes? Visit our
frequently asked questions to learn more. If you still have questions, be sure to contact the IRS directly
at 1-800-829-1040 or check out their website for additional guidance.

There are many ways to file your taxes. You can file the proper forms on your own, you can hire a tax attorney, or you can purchase tax preparation software
such as Sprintax. Most international students file on their own, however this will depend
on the complexity of your earned income (if any!). If you would like help doing your taxes, Sprintax can prepare your taxes for a nominal fee. For more
information, click on their logo:

Related Content:

Tax Questions

If you have any additional tax related questions, your best option is to call the IRS directly at free phone 1-800-829-1040. They will be able to provide the best guidance and advice for any tax related questions you may have.

International Student Tax Return Guide

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